Chapter 127. In the Darkness (1)
“Keito!”
In the middle of the ruined fortress, Kang Yujin shouted.
Keito was floating in the air with his eyes closed.
He didn’t look unconscious.
He simply hovered there with a calm expression, almost as if he were meditating.
What happened to him?
Then Keito slowly began to open his eyes.
His glowing red gaze swept across the surroundings.
“Keito!”
“Quiet, Yujin.”
At last, Keito answered.
“Keito, what happened to you?”
“You can see for yourself.”
Keito replied in a cold voice.
“I fell into Ha Mina’s trap.”
“Then what state are you in right now?”
“Nothing has really changed.”
That was what Keito said.
But Kang Yujin couldn’t agree.
Something about Keito had changed decisively.
“Hmm. I see.”
“What?”
“I can finally see the world clearly.”
Keito looked around as he spoke in a way Kang Yujin couldn’t understand.
“What a miserable place. Miserable land, filled with miserable people.”
"..."
“I have a rough idea of your level now. I can’t believe I wasted time showing consideration to people this pathetic.”
“What... are you talking about?”
“You are inferior.”
Keito stated it as fact.
“Ten years have passed since the descent of the Fantasy Realm, and yet you still haven’t properly rebuilt your country. There is no unified government. There is no national representative. Everything is improvised.”
“So you’re saying your country is superior?”
“At the very least, we are superior in the fact that we can exercise unified military power.”
This was clearly different from the Keito Kang Yujin knew.
Keito had always been confident.
But he had never openly looked down on others like this.
“We’re just not a dictatorship like your country.”
“That’s nothing more than self-justification.”
“No. We already rejected that kind of system ourselves.”
A dictatorship founded on force.
Cheon Sangwoon had already attempted exactly that.
Kang Yujin and the others had stopped him.
That was why Kang Yujin had no reason to believe the system Keito ruled in Japan was somehow superior.
“Then we should verify which side is truly superior.”
“Verify?”
“If we trample you, subdue you, and rule over you... wouldn’t that prove our superiority?”
"..."
Kang Yujin bit his lip.
Now he was certain.
Keito’s mind had been fundamentally altered.
“Keito, Ha Mina is controlling your mind right now. You’ve been brainwashed.”
“Brainwashed? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Keito tapped a finger against his own head.
“My mind is perfectly normal. Nothing like that happened.”
“That’s what you think. Ha Mina had all the Church executives brainwashed too.”
“You know nothing, Yujin. We possess resistance to brainwashing.”
Keito’s voice was filled with certainty.
“You don’t have to worry either. Ha Mina cannot brainwash you.”
“Then why did your thinking change?”
“It didn’t change. I already thought this way from the beginning.”
Keito continued calmly.
“I merely judged that, after considering several factors, it would be more profitable to keep negotiating and gradually build a relationship.”
“And now you think it’s better to conquer people by force and rule them?”
“That’s right.”
Kang Yujin couldn’t tell whether Keito had truly been brainwashed.
But one thing was obvious.
Keito had become extraordinarily arrogant.
“Fine, then...”
Kang Yujin slowly moved one arm to the side.
He prepared to draw a weapon from his inventory.
“You’re not interested in building a relationship with me anymore either?”
“You could say that.”
Keito answered without hesitation.
“Thinking about it, there’s no real need for me to become close to you.”
“What made you decide that?”
“Because I’ll defeat you in the end anyway.”
His tone remained cold.
“If that is inevitable, it would be better to do it as soon as possible.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Kang Yujin remembered Yuuki Hina’s request.
She had asked him to become Keito’s friend and join forces with him.
But with Keito transformed like this...
that was no longer possible.
“Can’t be helped.”
Kang Yujin sighed.
Only then did he realize that he had been more receptive to Yuuki’s request than he had thought.
But that was over now.
“Hmm. So you’ve finally decided to fight me seriously?”
“Yeah.”
Kang Yujin nodded and pulled the Durandal Replica from his inventory.
If they fought barehanded, there was a good chance they would end up in another stalemate like before.
He could use the Durandal Replica as a thrown weapon to create openings and...
“Yujin.”
“What?”
“There’s something I want to ask.”
Keito spoke coldly.
“Surely you didn’t actually believe that you and I were equal in strength?”
At that instant...
Kang Yujin felt a chill.
He had known Keito hadn’t fought seriously the last time.
After all, Kang Yujin hadn’t either.
“Our physical specs may be similar. But I have several times more real combat experience than you.”
Keito’s red eyes stared straight at him.
“You haven’t even been active for half a year. As a Vessel... wouldn’t you say I’ve already reached a much higher level?”
"...!"
Kang Yujin’s instincts screamed a warning.
Something enormous was coming.
“Uwah?!”
He grabbed Number 49 around the waist, coated his entire body in [Protective Aura], and threw himself aside.
“Agneyastra.”
Keito’s cold voice rang out.
Dark crimson flames, like molten lava, erupted from his fingertips.
"...!"
It looked like a fire dragon trying to burn the entire world away.
As Kang Yujin moved, he understood instinctively.
The moment those flames touched him...
whether he had [Protective Aura] or not...
he would be reduced to blackened charcoal.
“Kuh!”
“Aaaah!”
Kang Yujin hurled Number 49 far away.
Then he kicked off a nearby building and forcibly changed direction.
Long-range combat puts me at a disadvantage!
Keito kept firing flames as if he intended to burn all of Kaesong to the ground.
Dodging Keito’s attacks by the narrowest margin, Kang Yujin prepared to throw the Durandal Replica in his hand.
He needed to create even a single opening and close the distance.
Once I get close, I can use [Heavenly Splendor Great Thunder]...!
Unless Keito possessed regeneration on Phenex’s level, [Heavenly Splendor Great Thunder] should be effective.
And if even that wasn’t enough...
he could use [Shatter Everything].
“HAAAH!”
At last, Kang Yujin found the perfect position.
He drew on all the strength in his body and threw the Durandal Replica.
The spear-modified replica Holy Sword tore through the air with a thunderous boom.
But...
Grab!
Kang Yujin couldn’t believe his eyes.
Keito caught the Durandal Replica in midair without even twitching an eyebrow.
“Do you still not understand, Yujin?”
Keito spoke coldly to the stunned Kang Yujin.
“I am your superior version.”
Superior version.
He wasn’t simply saying, I’m stronger than you.
He was saying:
I can do everything you can do... only far better.
"...!"
Even so, Kang Yujin wasn’t intimidated.
Even if Keito truly was an upgraded version of himself, Kang Yujin believed that didn’t mean he had no chance of winning.
There had to be some way.
He kept moving, searching for it.
Then...
“Gandiva.”
At Keito’s clear voice, a silver-white bow appeared in his hand.
It was so enormous that it hardly looked practical.
Keito brought the Durandal Replica to the bow.
Kang Yujin immediately realized what he intended.
He was going to use the Durandal Replica as an arrow.
But that wasn’t all.
“Brahmastra.”
The entire Durandal Replica became wrapped in dazzling light.
Then it was released.
For one instant, Kang Yujin thought he could catch it.
Just as Keito had done.
Their physical specs were supposedly similar.
It should be possible.
But then...
Kang Yujin realized it.
This wasn’t simply the Durandal Replica being fired like an arrow.
It was the very essence of merciless destructive force.
An attack in no way inferior to the demons’ Destructive Light.
A deafening roar tore through the air.
Blinding light swallowed Kang Yujin.
And then...
he lost consciousness.
What the hell is going on?!
Matsushita gasped as he ran through the interior of Kaesong Fortress, which had become a sea of fire.
These flames definitely belong to my lord’s Agneyastra... the Astra of Agni, God of Fire!
Astras were ranged attacks from Indian mythology.
They could be considered a form of magic.
Agneyastra was an Astra that borrowed the power of Agni, the God of Fire.
When used at its true strength, it could supposedly burn an entire city.
My lord almost never uses an Astra at this level. And to spread Agneyastra over such a wide area while our allies are still nearby...!
The fortress was now covered in fire.
Most of the surviving demons had burned to death.
The Korean Contractors had also been forced to retreat because the flames prevented them from advancing any farther.
Matsushita had only managed to enter because he could protect himself with Water Release ninpo.
“My lord...!”
After searching for some time, he finally found him.
“Matsushita.”
Saionji Keito was sitting atop the rubble of a collapsed building as though it were a chair.
The sinister atmosphere in his eyes made Matsushita tremble involuntarily.
“What happened to you...?”
“Nothing happened.”
Keito answered coldly.
“I merely attained enlightenment.”
“E-Enlightenment?”
“Tell me, Matsushita.”
Keito turned his head.
“Why did we participate in the Kaesong reclamation operation?”
“What? To drive out Pandemonium and reclaim human territory...”
Matsushita stopped.
He realized that wasn’t the answer Keito wanted.
“No. We intended to establish ourselves in this country and eventually expand onto the continent!”
“Yes. That was the plan.”
Keito nodded.
“But tell me, Matsushita.”
“Yes?”
“Is there really any need to bother with that?”
Matsushita looked confused.
Keito spoke calmly.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to simply wipe out all the Korean Contractors?”
"...!"
“At this very moment, Lee Hyeonje, Shin Minyu, Ma Taesu, and many of Korea’s most influential Contractors are gathered here.”
Keito’s voice remained perfectly composed.
“If we eliminate all of them, taking control of this country won’t be particularly difficult.”
Matsushita stared at him in shock.
That was the hardline position advocated only by the most extreme faction within the Tenka Restoration Association.
While Matsushita was still stunned, voices came from behind him.
“That is correct, Lord Keito.”
“So you have finally made your decision.”
They were Matsushita’s companions who had been searching for Keito with him.
Two members of the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings.
Sakuma Hajime.
Narukami Kaoru.
“You came here too?”
“Haha. Flames of this level aren’t enough to stop us. Don’t treat us like ordinary Contractors.”
Sakuma laughed boldly as he approached.
“Lord Keito... so you’ve finally decided to act.”
“That’s right.”
Keito looked over each of his subordinates.
Then he spoke.
“The plan has changed.”
"...!"
“We will wipe out the Contractors of Korea’s Capital Region.”
Sakuma’s face lit up with excitement.
“Ooh!”
He repeatedly nodded, deeply moved.
“Lord Keito, I always believed this day would come! I knew you would eventually force the entire world to submit and become its true emperor!”
His voice trembled with emotion.
“So this is where you take the first step!”
“Yes. Most likely.”
“Ahh, Lord Keito!”
When Keito immediately agreed, Sakuma’s eyes even filled with tears.
“Representative, you always ignored Senior Sakuma whenever he talked about that dream... but now you’re saying it yourself. It seems your mind truly has changed.”
“I had considered it before.”
Keito looked toward Narukami.
“I merely decided during today’s battle that this option would be better.”
“Understood. Then I will cooperate to the fullest.”
Narukami smiled.
“My lord, are you truly feeling all right?”
“Don’t worry, Matsushita.”
Keito nodded.
“I actually feel better than usual. My mind is clearer too.”
“If that’s the case...”
Matsushita trailed off as he looked at Keito.
Can someone’s personality really change this suddenly?
Keito had always been a ruthless fighter.
Any faction that refused to submit to him was mercilessly crushed.
So the idea of wiping out the Korean Contractors wasn’t completely unlike him.
But normally...
Keito was extremely businesslike.
Cold.
Almost mechanical.
He had never acted with such overwhelming self-assurance, as though he were destined to stand above everything in existence.
No. That isn’t something I should concern myself with!
Matsushita forced the thought from his mind.
If his lord intended to become an emperor, then helping him with everything he had was the duty of a retainer.
“Understood, my lord. Then we shall make this place the battlefield for the decisive clash.”
Matsushita lowered his head.
“Contractors from a lowly peninsula nation are no match for us. We can eliminate them all.”
“Good. Dependable as always.”
“My lord, from a strategic perspective, eliminating the Korean Contractors immediately is also the correct choice.”
Matsushita continued.
“By now, the Constellations are probably cursing us for betraying them. To reverse that, we need only overwhelm the Korean Contractors with absolute strength.”
His eyes shone.
“We will show the Constellations that you, my lord, are the true supreme ruler of this world.”
“Yes.”
Keito nodded.
“You are right.”
Then he looked at his subordinates.
“I give you your orders.”
His voice was calm.
“If they attack, meet them and kill them.”
“If they flee, chase them down and kill them.”
“We obey!”
“Make them understand that the ruler of this land has changed.”
Keito’s voice was that of an emperor.
Far above the ground.
Inside a floating ‘device,’ Ha Mina looked down at the world below.
“Everything is proceeding well.”
Listening to Saionji Keito issue orders to his subordinates, Ha Mina slowly nodded.
“As expected, drastically increasing the parameters for decisiveness and self-affirmation was effective.”
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“The old Saionji Keito lacked a little self-admiration.”
A person’s mind contained many different thoughts.
Keito had wanted to gradually expand his influence in Korea through cautious negotiations.
But he had also considered ignoring all such justifications, wiping out the Eight Guardians, and simply taking Korea by force.
If a person’s psychology was adjusted to make them only slightly more decisive and confident...
they could suddenly act without hesitation on things they had previously only considered.
That was why Keito’s attitude had changed so abruptly.
It wasn’t as though Ha Mina had directly brainwashed him with specific commands.
“His affection toward Kang Yujin has also decreased.”
Ha Mina muttered to herself.
“To Saionji Keito, Kang Yujin is now nothing more than a competitor.”
Her voice remained calm.
“A target to eliminate.”
She thought back on the life Keito had lived.
“Until now, Saionji Keito has never formed an equal relationship with anyone.”
“That was why, the moment he met Kang Yujin, he felt a sense of kinship separate from his competitive spirit.”
That would never do.
Instead of mortal enemies fighting to the death...
they would simply become friendly rivals and deepen their friendship.
That was Ha Mina’s conclusion.
“Such a human side does not suit Him.”
So she had corrected his psychology.
If she left things as they were, Kang Yujin and Keito would never fight with their lives on the line.
They would just bicker and become friends.
What possible meaning would that have?
“Hmm... there is still a sense of incongruity.”
Ha Mina tilted her head slightly.
“How should I adjust him to make him closer to Him?”
She smiled faintly.
“More experimentation will be necessary.”
She would have to make further adjustments later.
Keito was still nowhere near the one she sought to recreate.
“Well, then...”
Ha Mina decided to check somewhere else.
The other Vessel she intended to test alongside Keito.
Kang Yujin.
“He took Brahmastra, the Astra of the Creator God Brahma, head-on.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“An ordinary person would have been erased without even leaving a corpse...”
But Kang Yujin was one of Ha Mina’s favorite Vessels.
She had even deliberately thrown Phenex at him as ‘prey.’
There was no way he would die here.
“Then... shall we see what condition he’s in?”
If this were enough to finish him, she never would have taken an interest in him in the first place.
Thinking that, Ha Mina began to move.
